Plate-clamp.



A. J. FORD.

PLATE GLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23, 190B.

Patented Mar. 16, 1909.

Ii lllll fli orncy 1ns "611ml Pars: 9a, WASHINGTON, u. c.

i i is il COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PLATE-CLAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 16, 1909.

Application filed March 23, 1908. Serial No. 422,818.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT J. Form, a citizen of the United States,residing at the borough of lllanhattan, city of New York, in the countyof New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovement in Plate Clamps, of which the following is a specification,reier ence being had therein to the accompanying drawings, forming partthereof.

My invention relates to means for clamping and adjusting a stereotypeplate or other sheet material upon the cylinder or platen of a printingpress, and the object of the in vention is to produce a device of thischaracter which is simple and convenient in construction and operationand which mu 0 erate without injury to the plate secured t ereby.

The invention consists in the improved late clamps hereinafterdescribed, as delined in the succeeding claims.

I will now describe the embodiment of the invention illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and will thereafter point out my invention inclaims.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a-portion of a form cylinder providedndth a plate clamp constructed in accordance with the present invention.Fig. 2 is a transverse section 01" the cylinder and clamp. Fig. 3 is aplan view, aartly in section, of the entire cylinder and clamp.

In the illustrated embodiment of the in vention a plate 1 of thin sheetmaterial is bent around and secured upon a form cylinder 2 of a rotaryprinting press. One edge oi the plate is secured by a fixed clamplocated in a longitudinal recess 3 in the cylinder. This clamp comprisesbars l and 5 secured together by screws 6 and gripping the plate betweenthem. The other edge of the plate is secured by an adjustable clamp"forming particulany the subject-matter oi the invention. This clampcomprises plategripping means consisting oi bars 7 and 8 securedtogether by screws 9 and gripping the plate between them. These bars aremounted on lugs 10, and the lugs are mounted on pivots 11 in the-iorlied arms of bel cranli levers 12. The levers are loosely journaledon a shaft 13 located in a longitudinal recess 16 in the cylinder andmounted in brackets 14 therein. Collars 20 on the shaft restrain thelugs against longitudinal movement on the shaft.

To adjust and tighten the plate, means are provided for locking thebell-crank levers on the shaft 13. Each lev 1' has an arm 17 engaged byan adjusting screw 18, and these screws thrust the arms in the directionto tighten the plate. To move the bell-crank levers in the oppositedirection when the screws are loosened, a spring 19 is fixed to each arm17 and to the cylinder. The screws 18 are provided with collars adaptedto en bushings 21, to prevent the screws from being accidentallyunscrewed far enough to project from the surface of the cylinder.

By means of the conjoint action of the screws and the springs thebell-crank levers may be moved in either direction to adjust and tightenor loosen the plate, and since the hell-crank levers are independentlycon trolled they may be operated to tighten the plate with perfectuniformity across its width, the elasticity of the bars '7 and 8 beingsur'hcient to permit a slight differential ac tion of the bell-cranklovers.

The pivotal arrangement of the lugs 10 on the bell-crank levers permitsthe gripping plates 7 and S to swing the levers are rocked, so that theplate 1 is not bent at its pbint of attachment as it would. be withoutthis arrangement, and injury to the plate is avoided.

It is obvious that various modifications may be made in the details ofconstruction and operation of the illustrated embodiment of theinvention within the nature and scope of the invention as defined in thefollowing claims.

I claim 1. A plate clamp for printing presses comprising plate-grippingmeans consisting of two continuous bars substantially coextensive withthe width of the plate and means for securing the bars together with theedge of the plate between them, a plurality of independently movable andadjustable levers upon which the plate gripping bars are mounted, andpivotal connections between the bars and the levers.

2. A plate clamp for printing presses comprising plate gripping meanscontinuously coextensive with the width oi the plate, a plurality ofbell-crank levers on which said means are pivotally mounted, and meansfor moving the levers independently in both di- 1 lever, and meanslimiting the movement of rections. the adjusting screw to prevent itsprojection 3. "A plate clamp for printing presses combeyond the surfaceof the printing element.

prising, in combination with a printing ele- In testimony whereof Iafiix my signature 5 menf, 1plate-gripping means, a pivo11:e d1be1l1l inpresence of two witnesses.

cranr ever avlng an arm upon W 1101 t e 7 plate-gripping means aremounted and a ALBERT FORD rearwardly-extending arm, an outwardly-Witnesses:

projecting adjusting screw engaging the HENRY H. DAVIS,

10 rearwardly-extending arm of the bell-crank JOSEPH KAUFMANN.

